"Being a comic book artist is like sentencing yourself to life imprisonment at hard labor in solitary confinement." What a tragic statement. I am a huge Jack Kirby fan, and Jack also was a very hard working man. He called his basement studio "a dungeon". But at least he had a loving wife and lots of children and he could work at home, even though he would only leave his dungeon for short times.
The quote is ESPECIALLY relevant in Japanese manga, because many of the mangakas in Japan still work that way. Because Japan never had the strong artists' rights/ownership movement the established work ethics for mangaka are... insane.
Wallace Wood is one of the only artists whose black & white reproductions outshine the original printed page. Stripping away the color allows you to see how good the artwork really is. Fantastic stuff.
I know Bob Layton, who doesn't live too far from me in Seoul, and we've spoken a lot about his life in comics. Layton worked under Wood and speaks fondly about him,. Calling him 'Woody', Layton says how much he learned from Wood and how brilliant he was as a creator, a teacher, and a friend. Wally Wood is a legend.
I was a student/assistant of Bill Pearson's in 1984 - 1988. Bill had/has a huge collection of comics and comic art, most impressive was he had inherited all of Wood's original art after Wood passed. I saw the originals of Superduperman and tons of other icons of Wood's work. Unfortunately, much of Bill's collection was lost when a fire destroyed a storage shed he kept much of his collection in. Much survived but much more was lost. Wally Wood really was one of the very greatest cartoonists ever.
I understand your battle with depression. I’ve been battling it for half my life. Your channel is one of my go-to’s for great comic stories about comics’ greatest creators. Keep fighting the good fight.
Chris I'm sorry to hear that you're having a rough time emotionally . Creative , smart , witty people seem particularly prone to self doubt and the less appealing side of our emotions . I share your struggle and I'm very much an admirer of you and the educational work you do here on UA-cam my long time educator .
The thought of drawing *10-12* hours per day every day for years is so bad I can almost feel my rist seize up from carpal tunnel injuries and my eyes turning to jelly from strain. Absolutely hellish. How comic book artists back then managed that remorseless pace while still retaining *such* stunning high quality is mind blowing.
Wallace Wood's story was always heart breaking. It is good to see he is still getting love after all these years. He inspired(and continues to inspire) generations of artists. ComicTropes always brings the good stuff.
I discovered Wallace Wood because I really like Power Girl. My favorite bit of trivia is that Wood realized his editor didnt care about what he was doing so he kept increasing PG's bust size to see if his editor would even notice.
Wood’s influence on the entire comics industry is tangible even today. I loved his EC stuff, particularly on “Weird Science.” His lush drawing style cannot be imitated. When I saw the “B-17” segment of “Heavy Metal,” I immediately thought “this looks like a Wallace Wood story from “Frontline Combat”
Mike Ploog did the main artwork for that "B-17" bit from the HEAVY METAL movie, but he would probably be the first to admit to being influenced by Wallace Wood's style.
From what little I've heard about his condition, Wallace Wood may have suffered from Pseudo Tumor Cerebri (PTC), a condition where the spinal chord makes too much fluid, causing pressure on the brain which causes constant headaches and can lead to blindness. Even in the early 2000s it was difficult for doctors to diagnose, usually being treated as 'just a headache.'
It's so sad that he only did so few Marvel issues, because he couldn't consistently meet the deadlines. That's why he lost the job on Daredevil (and because he wanted writing credits).
Solid intro to Wood. I agree with the title-he’s the GOAT in my book (along with Kirby & Crumb). Besides the top-notch craft, something indescribable about his work (charisma? soul?). Looking forward to more …
There is nothing like a comic illustrator who loves comics and the history itself. The biggest thing about Wood that impresses me is that he was a damn fine, good funny cartoonist too. Many great action adventure illustrators can’t draw funny, period. I also loved his versatility being able to mimic styles from the drawing to the inkng; he did the best mad comic strip parodies. In the mid 80s, I worked with a young woman who said her brother was in an assistant for him at Syracuse, New York. She said that Wood, drunk with a gun, chased around her brother. Does any of this check out?
Al and Fritz had a dynamic quality that Woody couldn’t match. But Woody was overall a notably better comic artist than Fritz, imo. Al remains the king, imo, who was great at every element of comic art.
"If I had it all to do over again, I'd cut off my hands" THAT is IT! As a comic book artist, it defines the experience perfectly. I'll share it with every buddy artist I meet.
I'm glad to hear that you are making Wallace Wood a multi-episode endeavor. He is a fascinating creative force. I understand depression since it's something I've dealt with my entire life. Thank you for all you do to make us more informed on the great creators of the past. You are their voice in our times. Only special people can do that.
As a 70's kid MAD Magazine was a highly sought delight. Beside the monthly issues, you could buy reprint paperbacks that included comic features from the 50's and 60's like Wood's "Superduperman" and "The Wild One Half." These had dated subject matter but the retro art style and humor were gripping. Wood could impersonate any other comics artist, and his own style had a ludicrous dignity that was hilarious even if you had no idea who or what was being parodied.
Legend has it that when Wally would come into the office to start his day the other artists would greet him saying, "Morning, Wood," and Wally would reply, "That's what she said." Hysterical. I bet this never got old.
To hear what he said before he passed is heartbreaking. To think he regrets having the talent he had. Sending positive vibes Chris, I know having depression myself it can be all consuming so stay busy and I love the channel, been killing it lately!
To answer your title, the answer is Yes. One of my big regrets was to see Mr. Wood sitting behind me at a convention and never telling him what his work meant to me and the field. Love this channel.
Thank you so much for this story on one of my favorites. I found him with the THUNDER AGENTS books and I became a life long fan. I think you're doing a great job. I hope you continue doing this.
Im sorry to hear about your struggle with depression. I know it can be a black hole that just sucks you in and all you can do is survive until it passes. I hope it helps to know that so many care about you and how important you are to all of us! 😊
Became a fan of Woody's during the 60's. His work, along with Kirby, Ditko & Gil Kane, was incredible for kids truly into comics. Any story he did was an event. Like Steranko & Adams he was a true star. He could draw any genre.
Incredible work, I want to search for more of his 50s work now. Regarding a permanent headache, I got something similar a few years ago and it was a combination of burnout, bad sleep, eye strain that needed glasses, and the "incinting incident" was a very bad flu, that I think just was the final straw for all the previous problems get to me and my body just gave out. I imagine Wood's vacation gave him a proper rest in years just brought all the abuse he got to his mind and body to the surface; smoking as he did surely didn't help: probably had blood circulation problems as smoking thickens the blood making it a strain to the heart to pump it, so it can lead to heart failures. It's sad that such a great, talented artist was abused and exploited to that extent his body just gave up on him like that 😢 what's worse it's still such a common situation even today...
@Shinmsl A friend of mine was being treated for migraines and her doctor was prescribing her stronger and stronger medication with no relief. One day when she went to get her latest prescription filled, the pharmacist asked her how long she had been taking this particular drug. When she told him it was her first time, he refused to fill it, explaining that the prescribed dosage was intended for someone who had been on the drug for some time and was building up a tolerance for it. I suggested that she have her eyes examined. I had experienced migraine like symptoms before I got glasses. She went to an optometrist and found out that she was extremely farsighted. She was working 8 - 12 hours a day at a computer. She got glasses and her "migraines" stopped.
Terrific little pocket review of Wood's EC career. Loads I didn't know. Enjoyed it immensely. Thanks. Hope your health improves. Let us know if you get better. Don't like to think of people struggling like this. Take care.
Excellent job. The distinctive, fluid compositions, and stellar anatomy makes Wood's art something that made the world better because of. Remember that daredevil cover. His style is something you can't unsee😂❤
This is a really great tribute to easily one of the greatest artists the comics medium has ever known; Wood was so ambitious and versatile it's hard not to be inspired by him. I remember taking a year off of my comic series just to beef up my drawing skills and more than anyone else I studied Wood (and yes, I improved!), mainly his work on MAD, Cannon, and witzend. It's always great to find more of his work out there, so thank you again for the recommendations. EDIT: also forgot to mention the Dr. Doom stories he did for Astonishing Tales; he only did a few but they're still fantastic (...sorry, Doom, should I choose a different adjective?)
Hi Chris, just wanted to say I'm sorry to hear about your struggle with depression. I'm also in the same boat and can honestly say your videos are a wonderful escape from it. Thanks for each video and hope things get brighter for you, man.
As someone who deals with Migraines I'm not surprised that with no medical relief He would use alcohol. The pain takes a lot of your concentration to sought of manage and you don't realize the physical strain until the pain subsides and your feel exhausted, with no relief his life would have become a living hell. To do anything under those conditions takes an incredible effort.The tablet I use is called maxalt it works very well I'm sure if medication like this was available to him it would have made a world of difference. Really enjoying your channel I Thank you and all who work with you for making it. Take care
Wood was the greatest. My fav. artist of all time. If I could go back in time, I would go back to 60's just to meet him. I would pay just to watch him work. He was THE MAN.
2:08 can I just say I really like the idea of comic titles bankrolling your videos. It feels more respectful to our beloved medium than advertising healthy cereal or Factor. This is more of a message to your sponsors than to you. Loved this one!
One of my greatest pleasures of working Cons oh-so-many-years-ago was getting to hang out with Al Feldstein for a day. When I asked him about Wood, this rock-hard New Yorker got a sightly pained look on his face, glanced away and said: "Great artist - great guy!...I really, really don't know what happened with him...". I didn't push the subject. Anyway. Cheers, Chris.
Another great piece and wonderful to hear one on a legend like Wallace Wood. Thank you, Chris for consistently putting out the most thoughtful and in-depth comics related content. You have a true passion for the art and the medium.
It is worth noting that the Harry Harrison you mention is not just any Harry Harrison, but actually the SFWA Grand Master, Science fiction writer Harry Harrison, creator of series such as Deathworld, the Stainless Steel Rat, and Bill the Galactic Hero.
I agree, that ‘74 Holiday treasury is a terrific place to read “In Mortal Combat with…Sub-Mariner!” from Daredevil issue 7. Might be the only time this story was reprinted in an oversized format.
Wood was one of those artists that made a friend and I want to create our own comics back in the 60s and 70s. We got pretty good at drawing but we learned that it was harder than you might expect. Discipline is key. We didn't have it.
Really cool hearing about the man, the myth, the legend: Mr Wallace Wood! The working conditions always sound so terrible so it's no surprise a lot of those guys got kinda jaded. Such a shame to see that talent and production come at the cost of their lives basically. Thanks for sharing this though. At least we can remember his work as the greatness it is
Wood was like the proverbial little girl with the curl: "When she was good she was very, very good, but when she was bad, she was horrid." Fortunately, the bad was not the essence of the man, and there is so much more of the good.
I work with comic books daily, pretty much a dream job, its always an absolute delight and treat when Wood's work comes to me. It is interesting to me how much he focused on nudity and sex towards the end of his life. A legend and undisputable titan of comic history indeed.
I've also been wondering why Woody got so much into nudity and sex material in the later '70s and early '80s. I think it was for three reasons -- 1. His mom passed away in August 1972, so after that time Woody didn't have to worry about embarrassing her; 2. The publishing world was generating (and selling) lots more adult material by the early '70s, so there was a ready market for dirty cartoons. Overall, the pay may have been better than what he was getting for "clean" work during that period; 3. Woody was well-suited to the task -- he drew attractive women, enjoyed doing so, and was no prude. Plus, the typical adult story did not require complex or extensive backgrounds, which he may have appreciated because it saved time and kept his hours-per-page time investment low.
There's a history of the Mexican comic era, that it's lost in time, even for the Mexican people, you could talk about it. One of the most famous comic hero in this time was Kaliman. Really an interesting time.
Precious tribute to one of the most important artist ever. I'm 82 today and have drawn since my scholl days. Wood was my inspiration and had been one of my favourites. His work with DC was classical!
If I was forced at gunpoint to name my favourite comicbook cover of all time, it would be Weird Science #9. Not one millimetre of it could be improved. And the most incredible thing? It was Wood's first ever cover for EC (as I believe you pointed out). Thanks for what you do - looking forward to more Woody stuff from this channel!
Thank you so much making this video on Wallace Wood. It's funny how I think being a comic book artist sounds so great, but it can be such a difficult life. I knew towards the end of his life he had a lot of challenges, but didn't know to what extent. I'm looking forward to the next part(s) on Wallace Wood!
Keep up the good fight, Chris! Dealing with depression is tough and can seem pointless, but it's not. It gets better. Remember, your videos (and you, yourself) bring joy and happiness to thousands of people -and that's something. Something big and worthwhile.☮☮🙂🙂
Keep it up! Wally was one of my all-time favorites! I have four of the Witzends and they have been the cardinal self published masterpieces of my time, not only Wallys work , but Frank Frazettas as well. Thank you for the background, because I had no idea of his development. On your personal note if you are getting help with depression, great. If you are not consider doing so and know you are not alone brother. Keep up this great work! These stories need to be told! Thanks again.
100%. WW's work in MAD is burned into my brain from childhood. My gawd though, between he and Elder, they could ape ANY artist out there. Such an incredible body of work and talent.
Wood discussion always welcome. Thanks for a detailed, well-illustrated episode. I'd never seen the correction-heavy, rejected MAD strip before; for some reason I always thought it was an Uncle Scrooge parody, but I guess not. I wonder who has the original today. As a fellow chronic headache sufferer, always had sympathy for him. And admiration for the way he kept going, until he couldn't face dialysis.
Thx for the nice mini-bio, and yep, the EC era was probably the most prolific period for what was arguably the best illustrator and comics artist of the 20th Century. He also reminds me a bit of cartoonist, Jack Cole, the 'colorful' creator of Plastic Man. Though my own Wally Wood fav was those form-fitting spacesuits, modeled after the Air Force flight suits Wood was already familiar with... but now equipped with rayguns and those 'yuge' fishbowl helmets!
“Wallace Wood’s 22 Panels That Always Work” still holds true today for sequential art storytelling.
Nah, it’s stupid. Learn to draw.
That sheet should be taught to every artist in comics today… I think the deep craft of comics is long gone.
"Being a comic book artist is like sentencing yourself to life imprisonment at hard labor in solitary confinement." What a tragic statement. I am a huge Jack Kirby fan, and Jack also was a very hard working man. He called his basement studio "a dungeon". But at least he had a loving wife and lots of children and he could work at home, even though he would only leave his dungeon for short times.
Ehh every job is like that. The truth is comic book artists are very lucky to draw for a living.
The quote is ESPECIALLY relevant in Japanese manga, because many of the mangakas in Japan still work that way. Because Japan never had the strong artists' rights/ownership movement the established work ethics for mangaka are... insane.
Wallace Wood is one of the only artists whose black & white reproductions outshine the original printed page. Stripping away the color allows you to see how good the artwork really is. Fantastic stuff.
I know Bob Layton, who doesn't live too far from me in Seoul, and we've spoken a lot about his life in comics. Layton worked under Wood and speaks fondly about him,. Calling him 'Woody', Layton says how much he learned from Wood and how brilliant he was as a creator, a teacher, and a friend. Wally Wood is a legend.
Awesome Sauce 🤓👍
I was a student/assistant of Bill Pearson's in 1984 - 1988. Bill had/has a huge collection of comics and comic art, most impressive was he had inherited all of Wood's original art after Wood passed. I saw the originals of Superduperman and tons of other icons of Wood's work. Unfortunately, much of Bill's collection was lost when a fire destroyed a storage shed he kept much of his collection in. Much survived but much more was lost. Wally Wood really was one of the very greatest cartoonists ever.
Sad yet interesting.
I understand your battle with depression. I’ve been battling it for half my life. Your channel is one of my go-to’s for great comic stories about comics’ greatest creators. Keep fighting the good fight.
Amen 😂 🙏
This channel is the best kind of therapy ever 🤓👍
Stop whinging
@Reginaldforthright805 stop being unkind
Chris I'm sorry to hear that you're having a rough time emotionally . Creative , smart , witty people seem particularly prone to self doubt and the less appealing side of our emotions . I share your struggle and I'm very much an admirer of you and the educational work you do here on UA-cam my long time educator .
The struggles of an artist
The thought of drawing *10-12* hours per day every day for years is so bad I can almost feel my rist seize up from carpal tunnel injuries and my eyes turning to jelly from strain. Absolutely hellish. How comic book artists back then managed that remorseless pace while still retaining *such* stunning high quality is mind blowing.
So happy to see you covering him! There should be more stuff about him. He's one of the few artists that was equally good at "realism" and cartooning!
His realism is stiff as a board.
Wooden? I love his Daredevil... Reall life is pretty static most of the time@@reginaldforthright805
His quote about working in comics is like a life sentence in solitary confinement is spot on. Great episode Chris, thanx!
Chris sorry to hear of your depression. We love you man, your passion for comics is a gift to us all!
Wallace Wood's story was always heart breaking. It is good to see he is still getting love after all these years. He inspired(and continues to inspire) generations of artists. ComicTropes always brings the good stuff.
He's also responsible for Disney Rule34.
No other comic channel I watch does deep dives into artist like Chris. THAT'S why I'm a patreon member.
God Loves Comics often does.
@@saintsataniko2116 I'll have to their channel out too.
I discovered Wallace Wood because I really like Power Girl. My favorite bit of trivia is that Wood realized his editor didnt care about what he was doing so he kept increasing PG's bust size to see if his editor would even notice.
That was the guy that did that? I heard that before, but I didn't know that was him. Huh.
I ❤ power girl. She's not just fan service but has lot of personality and fun
A lot of Sally Forth was put into Power Girl.
@@MrModamanReviews I'm gonna have to check out Sally Forth. I'm still trying to find time to read more Wallace Wood stuff.
@Akutabai5 I have heard this COUNTLESS times about Jim Balent on Catwoman. Which makes me think it’s complete horseshit.
Wood’s influence on the entire comics industry is tangible even today. I loved his EC stuff, particularly on “Weird Science.” His lush drawing style cannot be imitated. When I saw the “B-17” segment of “Heavy Metal,” I immediately thought “this looks like a Wallace Wood story from “Frontline Combat”
Mike Ploog did the main artwork for that "B-17" bit from the HEAVY METAL movie, but he would probably be the first to admit to being influenced by Wallace Wood's style.
From what little I've heard about his condition, Wallace Wood may have suffered from Pseudo Tumor Cerebri (PTC), a condition where the spinal chord makes too much fluid, causing pressure on the brain which causes constant headaches and can lead to blindness. Even in the early 2000s it was difficult for doctors to diagnose, usually being treated as 'just a headache.'
One thing I noticed, even at a reduced size you can always tell what’s going on in his panels. He was a master at values.
Comic tropes uploads = a good way to start my weekend.
Glad to see a Wallace Wood episode! Loved his Daredevil work and it led me to finding his Cannon work.
It's so sad that he only did so few Marvel issues, because he couldn't consistently meet the deadlines. That's why he lost the job on Daredevil (and because he wanted writing credits).
If there was a Mount Rushmore of Comics, Wood would def be one of the group. A master who could draw any genre and make it look better than anybody.
Solid intro to Wood. I agree with the title-he’s the GOAT in my book (along with Kirby & Crumb). Besides the top-notch craft, something indescribable about his work (charisma? soul?). Looking forward to more …
There is nothing like a comic illustrator who loves comics and the history itself. The biggest thing about Wood that impresses me is that he was a damn fine, good funny cartoonist too. Many great action adventure illustrators can’t draw funny, period. I also loved his versatility being able to mimic styles from the drawing to the inkng; he did the best mad comic strip parodies.
In the mid 80s, I worked with a young woman who said her brother was in an assistant for him at Syracuse, New York. She said that Wood, drunk with a gun, chased around her brother. Does any of this check out?
The constance of Wood's work is amazing! Certainly one of the greatests. All the best, my friend!
Wood and Frazetta were the top artists in that time period, along with Al Williamson.
Alex Raymond and Al Williamson are my all time favorites.
Al and Fritz had a dynamic quality that Woody couldn’t match. But Woody was overall a notably better comic artist than Fritz, imo. Al remains the king, imo, who was great at every element of comic art.
I loved his mad magazine work. Top quality.
"If I had it all to do over again, I'd cut off my hands" THAT is IT! As a comic book artist, it defines the experience perfectly. I'll share it with every buddy artist I meet.
Wally Wood was my dad’s favorite artist. He turned me onto him, and comics in general, when I was very young. Thanks, Pop!
I was 11 years old in the 50's and anything I could find by Wallace wood was my art school. He taught me to draw!
I'm glad to hear that you are making Wallace Wood a multi-episode endeavor. He is a fascinating creative force. I understand depression since it's something I've dealt with my entire life. Thank you for all you do to make us more informed on the great creators of the past. You are their voice in our times. Only special people can do that.
Wood was an amazing artist. I absolutely love his classic pulp sci-fi stuff. The rocket ships... the bubble helmets... The whole look. Fantastic!
As a 70's kid MAD Magazine was a highly sought delight. Beside the monthly issues, you could buy reprint paperbacks that included comic features from the 50's and 60's like Wood's "Superduperman" and "The Wild One Half." These had dated subject matter but the retro art style and humor were gripping. Wood could impersonate any other comics artist, and his own style had a ludicrous dignity that was hilarious even if you had no idea who or what was being parodied.
Looking forward to your future episodes on Wood!
Sorry to hear about your depression. 😢 Keep your head up, dude. Hope you’re doing okay.
MAD has always had an absolute glut of talented artists. Before I got into comics, it was MAD magazine. I would love to see more about MAD in general.
Legend has it that when Wally would come into the office to start his day the other artists would greet him saying, "Morning, Wood," and Wally would reply, "That's what she said." Hysterical. I bet this never got old.
They never found what caused his headaches? That poor man.
To hear what he said before he passed is heartbreaking. To think he regrets having the talent he had. Sending positive vibes Chris, I know having depression myself it can be all consuming so stay busy and I love the channel, been killing it lately!
My all time #1, Wood's 22 panels is a must have/see for any comic artist. Thanks for the Video on him.
To answer your title, the answer is Yes. One of my big regrets was to see Mr. Wood sitting behind me at a convention and never telling him what his work meant to me and the field.
Love this channel.
Thank you so much for this story on one of my favorites. I found him with the THUNDER AGENTS books and I became a life long fan. I think you're doing a great job. I hope you continue doing this.
Seems like Bob Kane took Wallace Wood's advice to heart!
Wood was the GOAT. His EC stuff is unparalleled.
Im sorry to hear about your struggle with depression. I know it can be a black hole that just sucks you in and all you can do is survive until it passes. I hope it helps to know that so many care about you and how important you are to all of us! 😊
Became a fan of Woody's during the 60's. His work, along with Kirby, Ditko & Gil Kane, was incredible for kids truly into comics. Any story he did was an event. Like Steranko & Adams he was a true star. He could draw any genre.
I'm excited for this extended look at a creator. So cool!!
7:51 "Never draw what you can copy, never copy what you can trace, and never trace what you can cut out and paste up"
Wallace Wood
Incredible work, I want to search for more of his 50s work now. Regarding a permanent headache, I got something similar a few years ago and it was a combination of burnout, bad sleep, eye strain that needed glasses, and the "incinting incident" was a very bad flu, that I think just was the final straw for all the previous problems get to me and my body just gave out. I imagine Wood's vacation gave him a proper rest in years just brought all the abuse he got to his mind and body to the surface; smoking as he did surely didn't help: probably had blood circulation problems as smoking thickens the blood making it a strain to the heart to pump it, so it can lead to heart failures. It's sad that such a great, talented artist was abused and exploited to that extent his body just gave up on him like that 😢 what's worse it's still such a common situation even today...
@Shinmsl A friend of mine was being treated for migraines and her doctor was prescribing her stronger and stronger medication with no relief. One day when she went to get her latest prescription filled, the pharmacist asked her how long she had been taking this particular drug. When she told him it was her first time, he refused to fill it, explaining that the prescribed dosage was intended for someone who had been on the drug for some time and was building up a tolerance for it. I suggested that she have her eyes examined. I had experienced migraine like symptoms before I got glasses. She went to an optometrist and found out that she was extremely farsighted. She was working 8 - 12 hours a day at a computer. She got glasses and her "migraines" stopped.
Terrific little pocket review of Wood's EC career. Loads I didn't know. Enjoyed it immensely. Thanks.
Hope your health improves. Let us know if you get better. Don't like to think of people struggling like this. Take care.
Excellent job. The distinctive, fluid compositions, and stellar anatomy makes Wood's art something that made the world better because of. Remember that daredevil cover. His style is something you can't unsee😂❤
This is a really great tribute to easily one of the greatest artists the comics medium has ever known; Wood was so ambitious and versatile it's hard not to be inspired by him. I remember taking a year off of my comic series just to beef up my drawing skills and more than anyone else I studied Wood (and yes, I improved!), mainly his work on MAD, Cannon, and witzend. It's always great to find more of his work out there, so thank you again for the recommendations.
EDIT: also forgot to mention the Dr. Doom stories he did for Astonishing Tales; he only did a few but they're still fantastic (...sorry, Doom, should I choose a different adjective?)
Such an important artist in the honored history of comics. Thank you Chris for bringing for spotlighting these Legends 🙌
You might have read these words many times, but believe me, your channel is a gem, and that's coming from all over across the ocean
Oh, can't wait to hear more about Wallace Wood! More artist related videos please!
Hi Chris, just wanted to say I'm sorry to hear about your struggle with depression. I'm also in the same boat and can honestly say your videos are a wonderful escape from it. Thanks for each video and hope things get brighter for you, man.
YES! I'LL NEVER FORGET WALLACE WOOD! HIS FUNNY STUFF FOR MAD, THE AGENTS OF THUNDER, AND MORE!
An excellent summary of my favorite EC artist. But you'd never want to tell him "I liked your old stuff better"!
As someone who deals with Migraines I'm not surprised that with no medical relief He would use alcohol. The pain takes a lot of your concentration to sought of manage and you don't realize the physical strain until the pain subsides and your feel exhausted, with no relief his life would have become a living hell. To do anything under those conditions takes an incredible effort.The tablet I use is called maxalt it works very well I'm sure if medication like this was available to him it would have made a world of difference. Really enjoying your channel I Thank you and all who work with you for making it. Take care
Wood was the greatest. My fav. artist of all time. If I could go back in time, I would go back to 60's just to meet him. I would pay just to watch him work. He was THE MAN.
Woody is definitely on Comics Mount Rushmore!!
Such a huge influence on the medium from his beginning to today and beyond.
Thanks Chris!!
Wait! Have we seriously not covered this already?! How did this go unnoticed?
Been a long time coming!
So much thanx!!!
🙌🏼
2:08 can I just say I really like the idea of comic titles bankrolling your videos. It feels more respectful to our beloved medium than advertising healthy cereal or Factor. This is more of a message to your sponsors than to you. Loved this one!
One of my greatest pleasures of working Cons oh-so-many-years-ago was getting to hang out with Al Feldstein for a day.
When I asked him about Wood, this rock-hard New Yorker got a sightly pained look on his face, glanced away and said: "Great artist - great guy!...I really, really don't know what happened with him...".
I didn't push the subject.
Anyway.
Cheers, Chris.
Oh! And keep up the great work you are doing, buddy.
Wood was a master. On another note: Thank you so much for your amazing videos, Chris! Please take care of yourself ❤
Another great piece and wonderful to hear one on a legend like Wallace Wood.
Thank you, Chris for consistently putting out the most thoughtful and in-depth comics related content. You have a true passion for the art and the medium.
Thank you for your support!
It is worth noting that the Harry Harrison you mention is not just any Harry Harrison, but actually the SFWA Grand Master, Science fiction writer Harry Harrison, creator of series such as Deathworld, the Stainless Steel Rat, and Bill the Galactic Hero.
I remember Daredevil vs Sub-Mariner from the 1974 Marvel Holiday Treasury. Clearly Stan Lee knew this was one in a million. Best comic art ever.
I agree, that ‘74 Holiday treasury is a terrific place to read “In Mortal Combat with…Sub-Mariner!” from Daredevil issue 7. Might be the only time this story was reprinted in an oversized format.
great, visionary and extraordinary comic book artist Wally Wood, Thank you very much Chris
Today his birth is remembered. Greetings from Chile!!!
Wood was one of those artists that made a friend and I want to create our own comics back in the 60s and 70s. We got pretty good at drawing but we learned that it was harder than you might expect. Discipline is key. We didn't have it.
Thanks for this episode, love your reviews of great comics creators! 😁👍
I am fortunate. I am 68 and retired. Now I can draw and sketch whatever. A dream come true😊
Really cool hearing about the man, the myth, the legend: Mr Wallace Wood! The working conditions always sound so terrible so it's no surprise a lot of those guys got kinda jaded. Such a shame to see that talent and production come at the cost of their lives basically. Thanks for sharing this though. At least we can remember his work as the greatness it is
Thank you for doing an episode on one of my all time favorite artists. I'm looking forward to more episodes on him.
Great timing theres a Wallace Wood art book being published in September.
Stay strong and get well soon. Always love your videos.
Do you have any further info about the upcoming Wood book?
Wood was like the proverbial little girl with the curl: "When she was good she was very, very good, but when she was bad, she was horrid." Fortunately, the bad was not the essence of the man, and there is so much more of the good.
I work with comic books daily, pretty much a dream job, its always an absolute delight and treat when Wood's work comes to me. It is interesting to me how much he focused on nudity and sex towards the end of his life. A legend and undisputable titan of comic history indeed.
I've also been wondering why Woody got so much into nudity and sex material in the later '70s and early '80s. I think it was for three reasons --
1. His mom passed away in August 1972, so after that time Woody didn't have to worry about embarrassing her;
2. The publishing world was generating (and selling) lots more adult material by the early '70s, so there was a ready market for dirty cartoons. Overall, the pay may have been better than what he was getting for "clean" work during that period;
3. Woody was well-suited to the task -- he drew attractive women, enjoyed doing so, and was no prude. Plus, the typical adult story did not require complex or extensive backgrounds, which he may have appreciated because it saved time and kept his hours-per-page time investment low.
@@reprintranch Three very solid and great points! Much appreciated!
Thank you for enlightening me about the legendary Wallace Woods. You have added depth to one of the titans of the industry.
Another great episode. Amazing work/artist. Those detailed environments were really something.
Thank you for sharing another great artist. I love the detail that Wallace Wood was drawing in those Sci-Fi panels. And please take care of yourself!
I was blessed to have Tatjana Wood as my colorist when I debuted. ❤
Coming back for more Wallace Wood is a good call. I can't wait for the next one, I'd love a deep dive on any of his eras or genres.
There's a history of the Mexican comic era, that it's lost in time, even for the Mexican people, you could talk about it. One of the most famous comic hero in this time was Kaliman. Really an interesting time.
Precious tribute to one of the most important artist ever. I'm 82 today and have drawn since my scholl days. Wood was my inspiration and had been one of my favourites. His work with DC was classical!
If you look at Wally’s work on Mad Magazine’s Blobs you can see how it influenced Pixar’s Wall-e. I wonder if they named it after Wally Wood?
If I was forced at gunpoint to name my favourite comicbook cover of all time, it would be Weird Science #9. Not one millimetre of it could be improved. And the most incredible thing? It was Wood's first ever cover for EC (as I believe you pointed out).
Thanks for what you do - looking forward to more Woody stuff from this channel!
Rest In Power, King.
Thank you so much making this video on Wallace Wood. It's funny how I think being a comic book artist sounds so great, but it can be such a difficult life. I knew towards the end of his life he had a lot of challenges, but didn't know to what extent. I'm looking forward to the next part(s) on Wallace Wood!
You're one of the most informative, interesting and instructive comic channels there is! Keep up the good work and please stay healthy :)
Keep up the good fight, Chris! Dealing with depression is tough and can seem pointless, but it's not. It gets better. Remember, your videos (and you, yourself) bring joy and happiness to thousands of people -and that's something. Something big and worthwhile.☮☮🙂🙂
Keep it up! Wally was one of my all-time favorites! I have four of the Witzends and they have been the cardinal self published masterpieces of my time, not only Wallys work , but Frank Frazettas as well. Thank you for the background, because I had no idea of his development. On your personal note if you are getting help with depression, great. If you are not consider doing so and know you are not alone brother. Keep up this great work! These stories need to be told! Thanks again.
That was a great primer to learning about Wally Wood. Thanks so much for making this!
100%. WW's work in MAD is burned into my brain from childhood. My gawd though, between he and Elder, they could ape ANY artist out there. Such an incredible body of work and talent.
Wood discussion always welcome. Thanks for a detailed, well-illustrated episode. I'd never seen the correction-heavy, rejected MAD strip before; for some reason I always thought it was an Uncle Scrooge parody, but I guess not. I wonder who has the original today.
As a fellow chronic headache sufferer, always had sympathy for him. And admiration for the way he kept going, until he couldn't face dialysis.
Great episode Chris! Love these creator profile episodes.
We have lost the a master of art. Loved music and was a friend to fandom.
the wallace wood chronicles begin, I'm excited to see more
Thx for the nice mini-bio, and yep, the EC era was probably the most prolific period for what was arguably the best illustrator and comics artist of the 20th Century. He also reminds me a bit of cartoonist, Jack Cole, the 'colorful' creator of Plastic Man. Though my own Wally Wood fav was those form-fitting spacesuits, modeled after the Air Force flight suits Wood was already familiar with... but now equipped with rayguns and those 'yuge' fishbowl helmets!
I see your play button behind you, Chris. Congrats, man! 👏
Mr. Wood is my all time favorite comic artist. The few instances when he inked Jack Kirby (Challengers of the Unknown) were the ultimate to me.
A true legend. Already looking forward to the followup instalment on Wood. And I will henceforth stop referring to him as "Wally Wood".
Your feelings are valid, there's a lot of darkness out there to be depressed about... there's also a lot of good to be thankful for.